Active Spiritual Warfare

Why Do We Not Hear the Voice of God?

Ken

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 NKJV). Every born again, Spirit indwelt Christian must have had the life changing occasion of repenting of their sins, turning in faith to Jesus Christ, and committing their life to Jesus Christ to follow Him, which baptism epitomizes. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5 NKJV). 

If we began listening to Jesus, who is “the Word [that] became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 NKJV), and we began following Him, then what has changed now? 

Nothing. 

Why Do We Not Hear the Voice of God? 

First, not just Professed Christianity, but humanity in general, we all have heard the Voice of God in the Natural World, whether we realize it or not, or we have acknowledged it or not. 

“1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard” (Psalms 19:1-3 NKJV). 

Second, if “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17 NKJV), indicating God has always been speaking and revealing Himself to everyone through the Natural World and more, then why doesn’t everyone thank Him? Ingratitude. 

“Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21 NKJV). 

Third, if we are to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5 NKJV), then how could we not be continually hearing God’s Voice, unless we suddenly became thoughtless? 

Of course, this leaves us open to the ridicule of the humanists commenting on God’s Voice speaking to us. But, did not Paul warn us, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)? Either we abandon this idea of God’s Word speaking to us, or we embrace it entirely and see what God will do. 

Fourth, any effort to gain the applause of the world for Christ without an overriding desire of converting them, would encourage us not to hear the Voice of God, and would discourage us from acting like God was speaking to us as a friend, because we would be losing credibility with the world. “So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11 NKJV). “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14 NKJV). 

Fifth, when we waver and apostatize in our heart, we will not hear God intelligibly speaking to us. “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word” (John 8:43 NKJV). Apostasy is not merely departing wholesale from the faith and being consigned to perdition, but it does mean to choose to stand away from a previously held, but correct position. We attempt to distance ourselves from being labeled apostate, because it carries theological baggage of an unpardonable sin. 

But, the only unpardonable sin is “he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:29 NKJV). If the Holy Spirit is our only means of repenting, then to obstinately resist His influence, makes the sin we will not repent of, the unpardonable sin. How do we know we will repent? We never can know we’ll repent, unless “God perhaps will grant [us] repentance, so that [we] may know the truth” (2Timothy 2:25 NKJV). Again, since our future repentance can never be certain, further resistance is not only futile, but immediate repentance is the greatest relief to our soul. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Corinthians 6:2 NKJV). 

Sixth, many in the Church comprehend the concept of God speaking to us from the Word of God, but somehow divorce the Voice of God from comprehensively influencing everything, as if God cannot direct us absolutely about everything. How can this be? 

“18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. 19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. 20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. 21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:18-21 NKJV). 

Seventh, Is it better to not hear the Voice of God, or should we continue asking, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” (2Kings 2:14 NKJV). Or, should we join the scoffers, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2Peter 3:4 NKJV). If they don’t see anything different, should we disappoint them? Or, should we join with the prophet, “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 NKJV)? 

If we hear the Voice of God, do we suddenly have all our prayers answered, all of our problems suddenly become solved, and humanity immediately submits to Jesus? 

No. 

“When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NKJV).

What Does It Mean to Hear the Voice of God? 

First, we are only returning to where humanity was in the first place. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat” (Genesis 2:16 NKJV). Adam heard the Voice of God from the beginning. 

Second, doubting the Voice of God is doubting God, which is what the Serpent intended. “Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 NKJV). 

Third, separation from God and not hearing His voice, is a consequence of that first sin; but, most important humanity died (Genesis 2:17), and all of man’s capacities, such as the prodigious understanding and capacity of Adam to name all the animal kingdom (2:20) perished or was diminished. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NKJV). 

Fourth, unfamiliarity with the Voice of God now breeds thoughts in which God does not inhabit. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4 KJV). 

Fifth, God must show us again how to hear His Voice, or we will miss what God is accomplishing in the world, just as Peter was taught by the Voice of God, how the Gentiles we’re now part of the Family of God. “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34 NKJV). 

Sixth, ignorance of the Word of God is a breeding ground for false prophets to misguide and abuse the Church of Christ about the Voice of God. If the Body of Christ is already this divided some 2,000 years after Christ ascended back into Heaven, then will the Tribulation Saints after the Rapture of the Church be deceived by the unifying, miracle working, death defying, charismatic, new leader? Will that Antichrist deceive them into accepting him as their messiah? They will not follow him and will be martyred for their lack of submission. “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed” (Revelation 6:9-11 NKJV).  

Seventh, so, the next time someone who calls themself a brother or sister in Christ says, The LORD told me… , allow the Spirit of God to show you whether or not they speak on their own authority, or whether or not they speak consistently with the Word of God. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17 NKJV). According to Jesus, all you need is a willing heart to do the will of God, in order to discern if the doctrine, teaching, or prophetic declaration is truly from God. Are you ready to do it? This is exactly how the Early Church had to determine the canonicity of proposed books for NT Scripture. Do you have a willing heart to do the will of God?

Isn’t it about time to re-evaluate where we stand? 

Spiritual Discernment

Ken

Spiritual discernment is spiritual judgment, which is a capability of all those who have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our ability to act upon spiritual things is based upon our ability to discern and understand them. 

“14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [Greek, anakrinō, discerned]. 15 But he who is spiritual judges [Greek, anakrinō, discerns] all things, yet he himself is rightly judged [Greek, anakrinō, discerned] by no one” (1Corinthians 2:14-15 NKJV). 

How do we discern the Voice of the Holy Spirit? 

First, God’s Voice must be consistent with His Word, for the Spirit of God is the author of Scripture. “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Peter 1:21 NKJV). 

Second, God’s Voice must not be contradictory to already understood Scripture; otherwise, it is not God’s Voice, or we did not properly understand what we thought we already understood. “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35 NKJV). 

Third, God’s Voice must be discerned, or we will be deceived by false prophets. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1John 4:1 NKJV). 

Fourth, God’s Voice must be discerned, because we are supposed to be Christ’s sheep, and all of His sheep know His Voice. “4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:4, 5, 27 NKJV). 

Fifth, God’s Voice can be discerned by comparing spiritual things with spiritual things, that is, comparing everything to the already understood and discerned Word of God. Something may initially sound correct, but God’s Spirit may give us discomfort about receiving something as His Voice, until it becomes clear. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Corinthians 2:13 NKJV). 

Sixth, we already were supposed to be searching the Scriptures to affirm whether anything being taught us was according to Scripture, determining the Voice of God. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11 NKJV). 

Seventh, we need to be careful about receiving someone claiming to give us the Voice of God, since it may be a test from the LORD to see if we will hold true to what we already know He commanded us. 

The Sad But Cautionary Tale of the Disobedient Prophet (1Kings 13:1-34). This story is so alarming, it would seem to make the Almighty uncaring about His prophets, but it emphasizes how much He values obedience from us all. Yet, the LORD said, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm” (1Chronicles 16:22 NKJV). 

Father, we come before You, asking for the discernment You expect from us, that we may do the work You appointed for us. Allow not Your people to be deceived by the wicked one. Mark us as those, who cannot be deceived because we know Your Voice. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Whole Hearted Seeking

Ken

“With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments” (Psalm 119:10 KJV).

“I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands” (Psalm 119:10 NIV). 

In modern times, we have a great sense of acceptability, when we approach life scientifically, which seems to account for much of human progress. But, the multiplicity of philosophical and human traditions, representing various gods, no gods, or variations of one god, indicate a difference of opinion of how to seek for the highest good for humanity’s existence. 

The Psalmist represents the seeking of God with the “whole heart” (119:10 KJV) or “all my heart” (119:10 NIV), as the means for seeking for the highest good for humanity’s existence. 

The question of our concern is, What is seeking God with all your heart? 

We immediately set aside any question of half hearted seeking, since Jesus eliminated that possibility. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [literally, riches, material wealth]” (Matthew 6:24 KJV). 

We are inescapably logical, for our mind shows us the relationship of cause and effect. Once our circumstances allow for the possibility of God, then logic serves us as effectively as it would for any human tradition. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). 

Seeking God with all your heart is allowing God to grant you explanations not provided by the world.

Seeking the Living God steers us away from dead explanations, even when some label them as science. “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). God’s explanation is always a firm foundation. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). 

Seeking God with all your heart is allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us what we could not learn otherwise. 

We can never “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Peter 3:18), much less learn about Christ’s sufficiency for all things pertaining to “life and godliness” (1:3) without the Spirit of God teaching us. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). 

Seeking God with all your heart is allowing the Holy Spirit to suggest novel solutions to problems, which still of course, conform to His Word. 

“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16). Here, blindness is an admission on our part that we have not known the Spirit’s leading in this situation before this point. Blindness is our insufficiency to find our way, and His leading is the way of the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23). Plead our insufficiency and His goodness. 

Seeking God with all your heart is allowing the Holy Spirit to suggest interpretations of Scripture, not before understood. 

After the Resurrection, two of Jesus’ disciples were on the Road to Emmaus discussing His death and now His reported empty tomb (Luke 24:12). Jesus was already making good on His promise, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus was anticipating their questions and providing their answer. “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). Their understanding or interpretation of already known Scripture was radically changed. “Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27). 

Seeking God with all your heart means solving any problem of life, regardless of how unsolvable it may appear. 

“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). If seeking God with all your heart sounds like God seeking us with all His heart, it is because He is (John 3:16). “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2Peter 1:3). All things pertaining to life and godliness for any conceivable problem of anything, anywhere, anytime means God is seeking us with His whole heart. 

How can we rationalize seeking God with anything less than He is seeking us? 

Father, we praise You for giving us Your Son, Your Spirit, and everything else we need for life and godliness. We ask that You would work in us that we would seek You as wholeheartedly as You seek us. May Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen. 

How to Find God

Ken

“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV). God makes it sound so easy for something humanity has gone to extremes to achieve. “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). If God is more interested in our salvation than we are, then shouldn’t our salvation be a higher priority for Him than us? “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9).  Even if we think we found Him, how do we think we are able to hold on until we come into His heavenly presence? “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:4). If God has been in the process of seeking us throughout the history of humanity, how has He equipped us not to be overcome by the adversary? “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Just because we began our walk with Him, will we make it to the end? “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Hallelujah! Father, complete Your good work in me! Return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Latent Unbelief (You Can, But Won’t)

Ken

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12 KJV). 

Warning: This is the lie we tell ourselves. 

LORD, I believe You can save, heal, or deliver this person I’m concerned about, but I really don’t think You will, because I don’t think You care as much about my concerns than for the obviously dire circumstances of others faraway. 

Whenever the people of God become weary in well doing, we begin to see prayer as only a way to change God’s mind about what we want Him to do, instead of prayer conforming us better to His Perfect Will. 

“Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (Malachi 2:17). 

When we are concerned about anything more than His glory, then we are gradually and insidiously building up resistance against the Most High. This is the fallow ground of our hearts that must again be broken up, in order for the Almighty to manifest His righteousness in us. His timing is always the right timing, and His actions are always right. 

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1Peter 5:7). 

Father, forgive me for my unbelief, for now I understand You love me more than I ever knew. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill Your Church with a powerful revelation of Jesus. Almighty God, create in me a new heart of faith and love. Justify Yourself, for You are right in all You do. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Opposition Research

Ken

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44 KJV). The devil is a liar and murderer. Satan would kill us all, if he could. The best way for him to hurt God is to hurt us. “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings” (Psalm 17:8). Deliver the world from sin and sinning is the best way to thwart the devil. The Gospel is the most efficient way to snatch sinners out of the clutches of the devil. “Through death He [Christ] might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Teaching the Church to abide in Christ is the most effective means of keeping the Church out of the snares of the wicked one. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV).

How Not to Sin (Abide in Christ)

Ken

“Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come” (Matthew 18:7 NET). Sin was never a necessity. Ever since angels and humanity made their choice against the Almighty, the stumbling blocks of sin have been present in the world. For God to prevent all sin, moral agents would no longer have choice. God cannot always wisely prevent sin; however, where Jesus is, sin is not, and where sin is, Jesus is not. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6 KJV). 

What a minute! 

Whoever continues and abides in Him is not sinning. 

Okay, that is logical and reasonable. 

But, “whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6). 

Isn’t that extreme? 

Not really. 

The Holy Spirit testifies we are not sinning, when we are abiding and continuing with Him. That is a comfort to us. 

However, when we are presently sinning and in rebellion against Him, for sin is the transgressing of God’s law (1John 3:4), then why should the Holy Spirit comfort us? He instead says I never knew you. 

Can you blame Him? 

“Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6). 

Abiding in Jesus prevents sin. 

And, that is only a byproduct of our need to see Jesus as the foundation and source of our faith. 

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). 

We need only to explore the vastness and importance of dwelling in Christ. 

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). 

“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:3-4). 

Father, we desire to be like Jesus. Help us to abide in Christ. May our pursuit of Jesus yield the peaceable fruit of holiness. Cause Your Spirit to work in us to produce the character and image of Christ. Keep us from pursuing an Accidental or Incidental Christianity. May our pursuit of Jesus be stronger than even our hatred of sinning. Work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen. 

Promise of Food, Clothing, and Shelter

Ken

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33 KJV). Food and clothing (6:26, 30) are here secured, by the Lord Jesus, who had already promised, “My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:18). What good thing has he withheld from those, who trust Him? “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). How can we withhold anything from such a God? 

Light Overwhelms the Darkness of Sin

Ken

“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2Peter 1:3 KJV). Everything necessary for life and godliness is presently ours through Christ Jesus. If this is true, we have no excuse for living in ungodliness, even for a moment, because of our understanding of Jesus. “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Was not this the world changing significance of Christ proclaiming Himself the Source of All Light, which dispels all the darkness of sin? “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1John 1:5-7).

No Excuse for Sinning

Ken

The promise for overcoming sin leaves us with no excuse for sinning. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [literally, allow] you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13 KJV). Jesus warned us, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34), as if any follower of His would no longer be a servant or slave of sin nor indeed had any necessity to sin, as if truly, “the truth shall make you free” (8:32). Why would we think it strange, if Paul supports Jesus’ claim that Christ’s followers should be free from the bondage of sinning, since God’s faithfulness always makes escape from sinning possible? 1Corinthians 10:13 is a promise because overcoming sin is not automatic or without our participation. We must fully participate in trusting Jesus to deliver us from any necessity to sin, just as Jesus trusted His Father to work with Him. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). We have no excuse for sinning.